5 Ways to Keep Your Technology Frugal

With the New Year in full swing and technology conferences like CES2014 giving sneak peaks of new products, we can’t help but think about what new gadgets we’d love to play with this year. The problem? Our budgets. With the coming of a new year, is always new resolutions to reign in on over-spending. But how do we do this and still stay on top of our love of technology? Below are a few tips I’ve discovered while trying to keep my technology frugal.

Learn to Downgrade
Yes, I said downgrade. January brings some great new gadgets that we’d love to check out, but it also brings in deep discounts on items that will now be “out of date.” If you are looking to update your tablet, instead of checking out the newest ones to the market, look at the versions that may now be 6 months to a year old. You could yield up to a 60% discount.

Sell then Buy
One of the ways we supplement our technology obsession is to sell the items we don’t mind parting with and using that money towards a newer item. One website we’ve had great luck with is Gazelle.com. They have always given us top dollar for our gadgets, which has helped us not dig into our budget to get that new handheld video game. Gazelle is just one of many sites, so feel free to do your research online.

Buy from your cable provider
Did you know that your cable and satellite provider have great discounts on electronics for their customers? It’s true! This is a little known secret that many don’t take advantage of, but it’s a great way to get items at membership club prices. Make sure to do a price comparison with stores like Best Buy and online stores such as Amazon.com to see if you are getting the best deals.

Price Match with Amazon
Speaking of price comparisons, if you find your dream gadget at your local Best Buy, but the price is a nightmare, pull out your smartphone and check Amazon.com. Best Buy stores will price match Amazon’s deals right in the store. Just show them the page and price right on your phone, and you can get your gadget at the better price, and you won’t have to worry about shipping!

Check insurance
This isn’t a real discount for your electronics, but it is vitally important in a household full of the best gadgets. Check with your home owner’s or rental insurance for coverage on your electronics. Some policies may not cover electronics, but it’s quite easy, and inexpensive, to add that coverage. It’s a 5 minute call that may save you thousands of dollars, so why not do it?